Plastering-trowel.



No. 636,345. Paten ted Nov. 7, I899.

P. s. MILLER.

PLASTEBING TBUWEL.

(Application fllnd lab. 4, 1899.)

' (No Model.)

INVENTOH I WITNESSES A TTOHNEY.

m2 NORRIS PETERS co. PHOTOJATHCL, WASHINGTON. u, c.

p UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP SQMILLER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

PLASTERING-TROWEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,345, dated November 7, 1899. Application filed February 4, 1899. Serial No- 704,602. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP S. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvem ents in Plastering-Trowels,of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlugs.

My invention relates to plastering-trowels, the object being to provide an improved construction of the handle-shank of the same, whereby greater ease is secured to the operator, and consequently a much better and superior trowel is produced.

The invention consists of the novel construction of the handle-shank hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure'l is a perspective view of a trowel with my construction of shank attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical side view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical end view looking in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a plan view showing approximate angle of thumb-pressure surfaces.

In the said drawings the reference-letter A designates the trowel-blade, B the stiffeningrib, and O the handle. These parts may be of any ordinary or suitable construction.

The shank, which is made of malleable iron or other metal, consists of an upright standard G, the foot thereof being connected with or a part of the stiffening-rib B. The upper portion of said shank is formed with two thumb-bearing surfaces D and E, the former, D, for the thumb to press against where gaging is required in plastering and the latter, E, in laying on and in most of the ordinary plastering-work where a firm grip is essential and to adapt the shank that the thumb may, in connection with the rest of the hand, grasp the handle firmly.

To form the gripping-surface E for the,

thumb on the upper portion of the shank G, I spread the metal of the said shank, making a depression or saddle-shaped surface on top,

and continue it around, gradually merging into a convex surface upon the neck of the standard of said shank, as shown in the drawings. The surface D is made by the spreading, above referred to, sufficiently wide to give a large area for the whole of the thumb end to press against, relieving the thumb as much as possible. I make this surface flat or slightly concave and give the thumb a good surface when putting pressure upon the work.

The advantages of my invention will be apparent to those skilled in'the art to which it appertains. It is to be employed with the blade of an ordinary plastering-trowel, and when applied thereto gives greater strength to the trowel-arm of the operator on account of the better grip by which it may be held in every position a plastering-trowel is used and giving the thumb a suitable bearing to take its share of the weight or pressure applied.

What I claim is- 1. In a plastering-trowel, on the upper portion of the handle-shank G thereof, the thumbgripping surface or guard E of a concave form on top and gradually merging into a convex surface upon the neck of the shank of said trowel, that the thumb may lie snugly thereon, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a plastering-trowel, on the upper portion of the handle-shank thereof a flat or slightly-concave thumb-bearing surface D, arranged diagonally in relation to the alinement of the handle of said trowel, as and for the purpose specified.

3. The combination in a plastering-trowel of a diagonally-arranged thumb-bearing surface D and a thumb-gripping surface E both formed upon the top portion of the handleshank, for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP S. MILLER.

Witnesses:

JAMES MCWILLIAMS, PAUL BARNES. 

